Registration

This years' Summer Rally will be to Manche ports and to the Channel Islands.

The dates avoid clashing with the Tour des Ports de la Manche yacht race, which feature all of the ports we have chosen but on different days.

The key dates are:

Date

Activity

11th July

Assemble in Cherbourg

12th July

Passage Cherbourg to St Peter Port, Guernsey

14th July

Passage St Peter Port to Carteret

16th July

Passage Carteret to St Helier, Jersey

17th July

End of Rally Dinner at St Helier Yacht Club.

Please now formally confirm
your attendance

Cherbourg 11th July

We assemble in Cherbourg Marina (Port Chantereyne) on 11th July. Access is at all states of the tide, thus avoiding the stress of a defined arrival time after the Channel crossing. The town is approximately 0.5 miles from the marina where shops and restaurants can be found. There is a hypermarket adjacent to the Bassin Du Commerce. Water and electricity is available on all pontoons. Diesel is available in the marina.

A pontoon party is planned for the evening.

The west entrance is the easiest. Keep your distance from the breakwaters because rock armouring extends outwards some 80m.

St Peter Port Guernsey 12th and 13th July

High tide Cherbourg on 12th July is 07.03 FST, 06.03 BST, which should allow a favourable tide for the passage to Guernsey (41 miles).

Our berths will be in Victoria Marina, in the inner harbour. With high tide at 17.10 BST, access over the sill into Victoria Marina should be available for 2 hours either side of HW for boats drawing no more than 2 m. The J class boats (lots of them) will be in the outer marina. Guernsey YC are hosting the J class at the time that we will be there.

Arrangements have been made for dinner on 13th July at Hotel de Havelet, which overlooks the harbour up above Victor Hugo`s house. The menu will be an appetiser of Golden Fried Brie with apple and Calvados sauce, main course Rack of Lamb with Redcurrent and Rosemary sauce and a desert of Chef’s Meringue “Suchard”. The equivalent of a half bottle of wine per person is included. Cost is £37 pp including a reception.

Guernsey St Peter Port including Inner Harbour

Guernsey St Peter Port

Carteret 14th and 15th July

High tide St Peter Port on 14th is 0638 BST. High tide Carteret on 14th is 20.02 FST, 19.02 BST.

Passage from St Peter Port to Carteret : 31 miles. Entrance to the marina is possible from 18.02 FST, 1702 BST. Berth as directed in Carteret Marina. VHF Ch 09. This is Bastille Day and a public holiday. We await details of what is happening in the area but at the very least there will be a fireworks display. Most restaurants will be very busy so it may be prudent to plan for eating onboard.

Carteret is a small seaside resort town on a tidal inlet just south of Cap de Carteret. The approach to Carteret is straightforward but there is a strong tidal set north-south other than at HW +/- 1 hour. The marina is on the north side just past the town and can be accessed HW +/- 2 hours for vessels drawing 2m over a sill which retains 2.3m in the marina.

The washing and toilet facilities are in the basement of the adjacent sailing club which has a bar but no dining facilities. Diesel is available in the marina and there are adequate power points and fresh water taps (no hoses). The small town has a number of restaurants and small shops and is a short walk from the marina. There is a supermarket about 15 mins walk to the east in Barnville together with other shops and restaurants. There is a daily ferry service to Jersey in the summer months from a small ferry terminal on the seawall on the northern approach.

Carteret looking from the Marina

Carteret Marina Sill

Friday 15th July is a day of leisure with the delightful beach of Barneville only 30 mins walk away or exploring the hinterland and the twin towns of Carteret and Barneville. HW is 07.34 and 19.45 BST.

At 19.00 (FST) meet at “Le Cap” restaurant, a 10 min walk from the marina and with views over the water. A 3 course meal with wine (at £35 per person including gratuity) is planned in the restaurant that has a deserved reputation for its cuisine under the direction of Renaud. The menu is Rillettes de Saumon de la rade a la graine de moutard, Magret de Canard et sa crème de thyme and Feuillette aux Pommes glace caramel beurre sale.

Carteret entrance at low tide
(click image to enlarge)

St Helier 16th and 17th July

Departure from Carteret on Saturday 16th July is possible from 0715 FST (0615 BST) until 1115 FST (1015 BST), with near spring tides. Passage: 25 miles

Access to St Helier Marina is normally available 3 hours each side of high water (20.17 BST). If the marina is closed there is a long waiting pontoon available immediately outside the marina entrance at any state of the tide. Most berths in the marina have 2 m depth, with a greater depth of 2.4 m available, if required.

The marina is very sheltered and has been accorded the top “five gold anchors” award by The Yacht Harbour Association. It has a shop carrying a full range of provisions, wines and spirits. Duty free items are available from a "cave" near the Ro-Ro berth, which one can pre-order on arrival.

St Helier Marina is very centrally located in the town, putting everything a visiting crew might want within easy reach. There is a lively Waterfront development, together with Jersey’s award-winning Maritime Museum and the impressive 16th century Elizabeth Castle (named by Sir Walter Raleigh, then Governor of Jersey) close by, but attractions out of town include the Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust founded by Gerald Durrell, Mount Orgueil Castle at Gorey, the Jersey War Tunnels and Jersey’s lush valleys, idyllic beaches and dramatic cliffs.

Jersey is accessible by ferry from Poole, Portsmouth and Weymouth and by air from numerous UK airports. Shore parties will be most welcome to participate and this location will be well suited for crew changes for boats planning to continue after the end of the rally.

The End of Rally Dinner (£38 pp including gratuity, welcome reception and a half a bottle of wine pp and port) will be held on the Sunday evening, 17th July, at St Helier Yacht Club. Situated in a prominent position overlooking the busy port of St Helier, the Club, now in its second century, enjoys an unrivalled view of local boating activity.

The Dinner menu is and appetiser of Coquille Fruit de Mer, main course 8oz Scottish Ribeye Steak (cooked to order) with a choice of Creamy Pepper/Garlic Butter/Mushroom Sauce served with Jersey Royals, Chips and Fresh Vegetables. There is a choice of dessert, coffee or Tea and Mints and Port.

Jersey, St Helier, Elizabeth Castle

Jersey, St Helier Yacht Club

Berthing

The club will book berths at each port. Each skipper should pay his own mooring fee.

Rally Plaques

Rally plaques have been commissioned in a form similar to prior rallies. The price is £10 each and, provided each boat buys at least one plaque, the following offer applies:

£10 for 1 plaque

£17 for 2 plaques

£23 for 3 plaques

£28 for 4 plaques

There is a minimum order requirement from our supplier, hence the pricing.

They make excellent drinks coasters !

Next Steps

Bookings should be made using the Register button, as soon as possible. Please do this even if you have already made an Expression of Interest, as using the Registration process will enable use to gather important information about:

First 40.7 Racing Cruiser
Club members now have access to a First 40.7 racing cruiser, VOLUNTEER, at special charter rates for enjoyment and training purposes. VOLUNTEER is owned by Volunteer Yachting Limited, a company financed by RNVR Yacht Club. Learn More